The Early History of Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise

January 28, 2018

Since its debut in 1956, Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise has become synonymous with world-class horse racing. This state-recognized professional sporting franchise venue welcomes millions of visitors each year. Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise is among the top-ranked horse racing venues in the U.S. and across the globe.

Featuring a mile-long dirt track, Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise is also home to more than 2000 quarter horses and thoroughbreds, many of which have previously won million dollar race purses. The horses that train, rehabilitate and race at Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise have exclusive pedigrees and have values in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Their owners know that the best accommodations for racehorses can only be found at Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise.

During the regular horse racing season, Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise runs daily races seven days a week except for major holidays. Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise also opens its gates for special events like fundraisers and celebrations, many of which are held in honor of children in need from the Phoenix area.

Even with its upscale accommodations and stellar reputation in the horse racing industry, Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise prides itself on being an affordable, family-friendly horse racing venue. The gates are open to the public starting at 11:00 every morning.

Before it became Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise, this world-class horse racing venue was little more than 1400 acres of dirt and grass just outside the Phoenix city limits. A local businessman, Walter Cluer, envisioned a horse racetrack overtaking this plot of land. He purchased the property in 1954, much to the doubt and chagrin of many Phoenix citizens.

Cluer proved the people of Phoenix wrong by building Turf Paradise and opening it to the public on January 7, 1956. The racetrack quickly became a favorite among horse racing fans across the state as well as the U.S. Cluer owned and operated Turf Paradise until 1980 when he sold it to businessman Herb Owens.

Under Owens’ leadership, a new turf infield and new chutes were added to the racetrack. In 1989, entrepreneur Robert Walker purchased Turf Paradise. He added off-track betting to its operations before selling it to Jerry Simms in June 2000.

Since then, Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise has transformed itself from a popular but modest racetrack into a world-class housing and racing venue for elite thoroughbreds and quarter horses. Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise has undergone millions of dollars’ worth of renovations, not the least including a new Director’s Suite penthouse and outdoor patio viewing deck on the Turf Club and clubhouse.

As the owner and operator of Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise, Jerry Simms is already well-known and widely respected in the horse racing industry. He grew up in the Midwest before launching a successful entrepreneurial career that took him to Pasadena, California where he owned and operated several car dealerships. His career eventually expanded into the banking and real estate industries before he moved to Phoenix in 1996.

His move to Arizona was geared primarily toward acquiring a stake in the horse racing industry. He purchased Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise in 2000 for more than $50 million. He then quickly invested millions more into making Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise a premier horse training and racing facility.

His leadership has brought exciting additions to Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise including a state-of-the-art equine therapy swimming pool that is exclusively available to the horses and their trainers and owners. This hydrotherapy pool at Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise was like no other training or rehabilitation resource at the time that it was built. It remains one of the top reasons for why horse owners bring their racehorses to Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise in Phoenix.

When he is not overseeing the daily operations of Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise, Simms is instead spending time with his family. He describes himself as a proud grandfather.

Turf Paradise since Jerry Simms Took Over

Since Jerry Simms took over Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise in 2000, he ushered in an era of renovations and changes that have greatly benefited the look and function of Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise. Of course, one of the most exciting additions to Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise is the equine therapy pool, a state-of-the-art training and rehabilitation resource that keeps the elite racehorses at Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise in perfect racing condition.

However, he also upgraded and renovated the grandstands, clubhouse, and Turf Club at Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise, making them more comfortable and upscale for board members and guests to spend time in during the racing season.

The grandstands sit alongside the dirt track and provide the perfect view of the racing action. The Turf Club and clubhouse are both outfitted with high-definition flatscreen TVs on which the races are broadcast. They also boast upscale dining facilities that guests can enjoy throughout the racing day.

The changes that Jerry Simms brought to Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise have made it one of the most premier racing venues in Arizona as well as anywhere else in the U.S. Millions of people come to Phoenix each year solely with the intention of visiting Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise and viewing the exciting horse races that are held every day from mid-October through early May.